Juice cleanses seem to be the way to go for getting rid of toxins that are believed to be the cause of everything from acne to kidney problems. And yes, they have also become quite popular for those looking for a seemingly healthy way to shed weight fast, thanks to celebrities who have sung the praises of juice cleanses for slimming down for a movie or event. Before you try a cleanse in hopes of shedding some pounds though, you may want to consider the following information that shows just how a juice cleanse can cause you to gain weight instead of lose it.

A Blow to Your Metabolism

Anytime you significantly deprive your body of food, it has a negative impact on your metabolism. The reason for this is that it protects you from the effects of starvation (a cleanse or drastic decrease in the calories or nutrients consumed causes your body to go into starvation mode) by slowing down your metabolism so that you hold on to fat and energy longer. Doing this leads to weight gain, especially in the case of those on cleanses that last a week or two or those who use cleanses on a regular basis.

Hidden Calories

The calories in juices aren’t so much hidden as they are deceiving and hard to keep track of. We tend to think that fruit juice is low in calories, which is not the case at all. Fruit juice tends to be high in calories and sugar, and yes, even naturally occurring sugars can cause weight gain. Also, living on juice during a cleanse leaves many drinking away without keeping track of how many calories they’re actually taking in.

Rebound Noshing

Even the strongest willpower can be no match for the temptation of overeating that follows several days living on juice. Not only does a juice cleanse mean days or weeks of depriving yourself of the foods you love, the effects of all that fruit on your blood sugar levels can actually increase your hunger and cravings, leading to overeating after a cleanse. Many people who go on cleanses and fasts end up “cheating” and giving into their cravings and hunger long before the end of the fast, usually by overeating or by making impulse food choices and eating something unhealthy.

Less Energy = Less Activity

Regardless of the promises made about abundance of energy that certain cleanses are supposed to give you, most people feel anything but energetic during a cleanse. This is to be expected given the fact that you significantly decrease the amount of nutrients and vitamins that you’re taking in when you don’t eat for several days. Not only does this mean that you’re unable to be as active as you generally are or should be, but this time also throws you off of your exercise routine which could prove hard to get back into once you’re finished the cleanse making weight gain even more likely.

The Health Local Staff is a team of writers and experts dedicated to bringing you the latest health, nutrition and lifestyle information at www.healthlocal.ca.